The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston has announced the appointment of Vermont Community Loan Fund Executive Director Will Belongia to the Bank's New England Community Development Advisory Council (CDAC). The New England CDAC is comprised of fourteen representatives from community development organizations from the private, public, and non-profit sectors. The council informs the Boston Fed president and its board of directors on activities, issues, and barriers to community development, as well as effective use of community development resources, throughout the region.

AllEarth Rail, LLC is pleased to announce the hiring of Steve Wichmann as Director of Mechanical Operations. Wichmann comes to AllEarth Rail with twenty-two years of experience switching, running, and managing railroad operations. He also brings expertise in working on railroad equipment, steam and diesel engines, and passenger cars. Prior to joining AllEarth Rail, Wichmann was the Assistant Vice-President of Mechanical Operations for Genesee and Wyoming Railroad, where he managed mechanical and environmental operations for the Northeast Region.

The Hospital Medicine Department at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) is pleased to welcome Nurse Practitioner Rebecca Filson. Filson has worked as a registered nurse on the medical floors, the intensive care unit, and as a clinical care coordinator at SVMC since 2011. With this appointment, Filson transitions from the nursing team to the medical staff and the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Putnam Medical Group.

We are excited to introduce you to Valerie Goldberg RDN, CD, of Whole Health Nutrition. Whole Health Nutrition is a South Burlington based nutrition consulting practice with satellite sites throughout Chittenden county. Modern science validates that the food we eat has a powerful influence on our health. And yet, sometimes information about nutrition can be confusing and overwhelming. Whole Health Nutrition makes the science of nutrition accessible using simple solutions that inspires eating well to live well. Valerie exemplifies this approach.

The Vermont Association of Insurance Professionals is pleased to announce that Katie Doherty from Vermont Mutual Insurance Group has become the newest member of the VTAIP. Membership in VTAIP is an industry commitment to the insurance community through leadership development, career enhancement and creating relationships with other industry related connections.

The VTAIP meets monthly and encourages outside community members to join us at our dinner meetings to connect and network with insurance related professionals.

Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty is pleased to announce that Sarah MacLeod has joined the company’s South Burlington, VT, office as a Sales Associate. Sarah is a native Vermonter who has traveled to and lived in many states and several other countries. She started her career as a buyer for a chain of retail stores, then spent eleven years at Burton Snowboards where she enjoyed building consensus, and leading the planning, forecasting & buying functions for the global business.

Scott Dikeman of Rutland, VT has joined The Bank of Bennington as a Vice President in the Commercial Lending department. He will work with business customers out of the Rutland office on Woodstock Ave. “We are delighted to welcome Scott to The Bank of Bennington. He brings a valuable combination of keen knowledge about the Rutland business community, and long commercial banking experience,” said Dave Bardin, Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending for the bank.